MLK Day events set in Fort Mill, York, Chester counties

Fort Mill

Fort Mill will host a holiday observance for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at 10 a.m. Monday at the Fort Mill Church of God, 221 Academy St. Juanita Sanders, retired Fort Mill educator and founder of the Fort Mill Optimist Club, will be the keynote speaker focusing on volunteerism and community service.

The event will feature performances by the newly formed Community Choir and the United Men’s Choir of United A.M.E. Zion, a praise dance by Anitra Cargile Hickman, reading of essays by Fort Mill school students, as well as a poetry reading and singing of the national anthem by Johnny Murdock.

After the service Mayor Guynn Savage and guests will participated in a Peace Walk from the church to the Fort Mill History Museum, located at 107 Clebourne St. for refreshments and to view the museum’s newest gallery spotlighting African American citizens who have served/contributed to Fort Mill.

For information, contact: Caroline B. Hasty at 803-547-2116 or chasty@fortmillsc.gov.

York

▪ The city’s 34th annual Martin Luther King parade begins at 1 p.m. Saturday and will run south on Congress Street from Madison Street to Jefferson Elementary School. Congress Street will be closed to traffic during the parade. The parade, sponsored annually by the Western York County branch of the NAACP, is the oldest MLK parade in South Carolina.

The parade will honor World War II veterans from York and features six marching bands from York and Clover high schools as well as other schools from around the state. Groups can enter the parade for a $50 fee.

For information, call Steve Love at 803-684-7124 or Freddie Campbell at 704-813-6617.

Chester

▪ Chester County’s MLK Celebration Committee presents its 24th annual lineup of events.

The annual MLK parade starts at 3 p.m. Sunday; line up at 1:30 p.m. at Finley Center on Caldwell Street. The parade heads down Loomis Street to Lancaster Street and York Street, ending at Joe Collins Stadium.

A youth appreciation service is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at Union Baptist Church on Ligon Street, featuring Alfred Williams, assistant principal of Chester High School. Youth choirs will sing.

A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Antioch Baptist Church on Boyd Road, with the Rev. Paul Long leading. Area men’s choirs will sing.

▪ As part of the 2nd Thursday Blues MLK Jr. Blues Festival, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will host a community “Sunny Side Up Breakfast,” 8-10 a.m. Saturday with performances by Bill Andrews and Jan and Rick Rosenberger at the chuch on Center Street.

The blues festival wraps up with additional performances from 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Carolina Hall, 119 College St.

For more information, contact Dave Claytor at secondthursdayblues@gmail.com or 803-379-1683. For a complete schedule, find 2nd Thursday Blues on Facebook.

Rock Hill

▪ Rock Hill’s Community Relations Council will host its 13th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church on Hood Center Drive. A breakfast serving line starts at 6:45 a.m. The keynote speaker will be Henri Etta Baskins, executive director of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council.

Tickets are $15 and available at the Housing & Neighborhood Services Office, 150 Johnston St.; the City Management Office at City Hall, 155 Johnston St.; and the Rock Hill Police Substation at 46 Sunset Drive. Table sponsorships are available starting at $200. For information, call Carol Harvey-Hughes at 803-326-2426.

This story was originally published January 16, 2016 at 9:40 AM with the headline "MLK Day events set in Fort Mill, York, Chester counties."